Volunteering and the value of parenting were highlighted by the Governor General’s wife Lady Susan Satyanand when she opened the New Zealand Playcentre Federation’s annual conference today (Friday 28 May).

The conference saw about 120 delegates from the Federation’s 33 associations come from around the country to spend four days at Silverstream Retreat in Wellington’s Hutt Valley. The associations represent 489 Playcentres throughout the country. Playcentres are a parent/whanau-led Early Childhood Education organization for children from birth to school-age.

“When Anand became the Governor-General in 2006, I decided to use what profile I have to promote…protection of the environment, children, and volunteering,” Lady Satyanand said.

“The latest figures available from Statistics NZ, reported that in our country we contributed unpaid work for non-profit organizations valued at $3.3 billion in the year ended March 2004. Given how far non-profit organizations have come over the last six years, I am sure that the value of voluntary effort would have risen since. It shows that we really do have many committed, willing volunteers. New Zealand communities need to continue to foster that spirit as young people take their place as leaders.”

Lady Satyanand recognized the support and education Playcentre has, as a voluntary organization, provided New Zealand families and communities for over 60 years. “The opportunities that Playcentres provide in giving whanau, parents and children the chance to learn together, is unique. I have been told that in 2008 more than 20,000 people attended parent education courses, workshops, discussions and other education events offered by the Federation.”

“Anand and I have three children and last year we were blessed with two grandchildren – Lola, who is a keen attendee of Playcentre, and Joshua, who lives in London. Being a parent is the most important role a person can ever have. The role of parent is so multi faceted that people often become absorbed in it and are totally unselfish in caring for their children. Helping children to learn is the most influential thing most of us do in our lives.”

Lady Satyanand quoted American author Joyce Maynard: “It’s not only children who grow. Parents do too. As much as we watch to see what our children do with their lives, they are watching us to see what we do with ours. I can’t tell my children to reach for the sun. All I can do is reach for it myself.”